Relation of Church Membership
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impurity and falsehood, while they are sometimes called to rebuke
iniquity among the high as well as the low, showing them that the
indignation of God will fall upon the transgressors of His law, yet they
should not be overbearing or tyrannical; they should manifest kindness
and love, a spirit to save rather than to destroy.
The long-suffering of Jehovah teaches ministers and church mem-
bers who aspire to be colaborers with Christ, unmistakable lessons
of forbearance and love. Christ connected Judas and impulsive Peter
with Himself, not because Judas was covetous and Peter passionate,
but that they might learn of Him, their great Teacher, and become, like
Him, unselfish, meek, and lowly of heart. He saw good material in
both these men. Judas possessed financial ability and would have been
of value to the church had he taken home to his heart the lessons which
Christ was giving by rebuking all selfishness, fraud, and avarice, even
in the little matters of life. These lessons were oft-repeated: “He that
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is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is
unjust in the least is unjust also in much.”
Our Saviour sought to impress upon His hearers that a man who
would advantage himself by overreaching his neighbor in the smallest
item would, if the opportunity were favorable, overreach in larger
matters. The least departure from strict rectitude breaks down the
barriers and prepares the heart to do greater injustice. Christ, by
precept and example, taught that the strictest integrity should govern
our actions toward our fellow men. “Whatsoever ye would that men
should do to you, do ye even so to them.” Christ was continually
portraying the defective lives of the Pharisees and reproving them.
They professed to be keeping the law of God, yet in their daily acts
were practicing iniquity. Many widows and orphans were robbed of
their little all to gratify an avaricious desire for gain.
Judas might have been benefited by all these lessons had he pos-
sessed a desire to be right at heart; but his acquisitiveness overcame
him, and the love of money became a ruling power. He carried the
purse containing the means to be used in carrying forward the work of
Christ, and little sums were from time to time applied to his own use.
His selfish heart grudged the offering made by Mary of the alabaster
box of ointment, and he reproved her for her imprudence. Thus, in-
stead of being a learner, he would be a teacher and instruct our Lord
in regard to the propriety of her action.